I’m posting this for Paul. I am the co-editor and designer. I’m really proud of the overall vision, look and quality of work in this debut issue.

Fiction by Steve Almond, Craig Wallwork, Nik Korpon, Catherine J. Gardner, Caleb J. Ross, Rhian Waller, Deborah Walker, Christopher Kugler, Colin McKay Miller, and the first installment of a Sideshow Fables serial by Nicholas Merlin Karpuk.

I’m a big fan of Steve Almond, and we’re thrilled to have him in our first issue. You may recognize the names of Craig, Nik, Caleb and Colin as writers that have published in Colored Chalk before, some in my issues. All are fantastic writers, and I’ve published alongside many of them. In fact, Craig and Caleb are going to be in the Gold Dust Anthology coming out at the end of the year. The Great Karpuk is another writer whose work I’ve gotten to know, and I’ve become a real fan of his work as well. The other writers are all new to me, but their contributions are just as strong.

*****************************************************************************************

Hello everyone,

I am excited to announce that Sideshow Fables #1 is now available for sale at http://www.sideshowfables.com. Visit the Sideshow Fables ‘Store’ to view buying options.

The print edition of Sideshow Fables will be available to ship in a week or so. We are accepting pre-orders at this time, so if you purchase the print magazine through the website, your order will be shipped as soon as we have the copies in hand. When you purchase a print copy, you will also receive a free copy of the E-book version of Sideshow Fables in PDF format. You will receive a separate email that will give you a link to download the PDF.

You will also see that we have the E-book version of Sideshow Fables #1 for sale that is available immediately for only $3.00. After you complete your checkout with PayPal, you will be given a link to download the file.

Thanks for your continued interest and support of Sideshow Fables. When you purchase a copy of Sideshow Fables in any format, you are supporting the Sideshow Fables team, the writers of the stories, and literature as a form of entertainment.

Let us know what you think of Issue #1 by emailing us at sideshowfables@gmail.com.

On behalf of everyone here at Sideshow Fables, thanks so much!

Sincerely,

Paul Eckert

Editor
Sideshow Fables
sideshowfables@gmail.com
www.sideshowfables.com

Heaven and Hell

I’m very excited to post this up. Such a great group of writers. Thanks Jason Heim for all of the web work, and to Mark Wilkinson for his beautiful cover (http://www.the-masque.com/)

I just wanted to take one moment to talk about the fantastic writers involved:

Zsa Zsa – she was a very misunderstood soul and will be sorely missed

Vincent Louis Carrella – such a great voice, and his novel Serpent Box has been getting some great reviews http://www.amazon.com/Serpent-Box-Vincent-Louis-Carrella/dp/0061126268

Beth Mathison – she’s a new voice to me, but her story really tugged at me emotionally

Craig Wallwork – I published a story in my last issue #6, and thought it was one of the best of that issue, and his story this time is equally powerful

Karen Brown – When I first read her story “Galatea” in the 2008 Best American Short Stories I was blown away. I thought it was one of the best in that collection. We are lucky to have her contribution for CC#9, a gripping tale

Shaindel Beers – I know her poetry, and have read with her, such a sweet woman, so I was a bit shocked by her micro fiction for this issue. It will surprise you. She has a collection of poetry out here http://www.saltpublishing.com/books/smp/9781844715053.htm

Christopher Dwyer – my brother from another mother, one of my kindred spirit dark writers, I am never disappointed by his work. He’s also the “writer-in-residence” at Dogmatika, with a column called Dark Matter. Here’s one called “Crackle” that I love http://dogmatika.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/crackle/

M. Kilbain Lazer – an elusive, reclusive twisted soul, his work is never predictable and always a blast to read

Paul Mallaghan – another new voice to me, his story was one that I HOPED to get on the heaven side (although that could be debated) but one that was visceral and vivid, a great read

Michael Paul Gonzalez – a short intense story his work runs the gamut and this story is a wild ride as well

Valerie Geary – I was glad to get a lot of female voices in this issue, and Valerie’s story just floored me, so heavy and yet human

Kara Kilgore – another wild ride that really spoke to me, so glad to get Kara’s work out here – done several intensives with her at the Cult and she is unique and very compelling with her writing

Gayle Towell – what a powerful up and coming writer – I’ve been reading her novel Optimism at the Cult workshop and if I had a press, I’d publish it myself – great writer

Gavin Pate – his was a slightly different interpretation of theme and that’s why I wanted it included – his book The Way to Get Here is available at Bootstroap Press http://www.bootstrapproductions.org/catalog/books/theway.html

Nik Korpon – another dark writer, his story went against his usual writing but still held on to the intensity of his words, heaven in many forms

THANKS again everyone,
Peace,
Richard

Part of the upcoming Shadowplay Collection

So I discovered Mark on www.deviantart.com searching for a cover for the upcoming issue of Colored Chalk #9 – Heaven and Hell. He really does some amazing work. I’m very excited to use some of his latest work for the upcoming cover. He has a book of his art coming out soon, so if you like his style, be sure to buy a copy. The image I’m posting here is what I will use for the cover, but it links to his site, so go check out more of his work as well. Here are a couple of extra links as well:

Mark’s site: http://www.the-masque.com/
Dante’s (an upcoming show): http://www.dante-exhibition.com/IMAGES.htm
Shadowplay (book news): http://www.the-masque.com/news.html

Peace,
Richard

Edited and designed by Richard Thomas

Such a great list of authors:

Caleb J. Ross – always a very strong writer, wide range of genres

Joe Meno – many novels, teaches at Columbia College here in Chicago, great at AWP this year

Joey Goebel – another great novelist, very supportive and talented

Alex Cassun – know Alex mostly from The Cult, really a solid writer, need to see more of him

William T. Allen – new to me, loved this story

Rayo Casablanca – really blowing up, two novels out now

Axel Taiari – one of my favorite authors, his style and slipstream work, powerful and unique

Christopher Dwyer – a great neo-noir author, we hang at WC, Velvet, Cult, really a kindred spirit, rich writing

Craig Wallwork – really been on fire lately, this may have been my favorite in this issue, powerful

Nik Korpon – along with CJD, another neo-noir writer, always a strong contributor, wide range too

Joe Dornich – another new writer to me, really talented, has a lot going on, great stuff

Jeff Macfee – we go back to the Cult intensives, always a powerful writer, one of the best Culties out there

Richard Martin – great vision, funny, the latest MacAdam/Cage author to blow up, new novel out soon

Eddy Rathke – i really liked this story, surreal, powerful, intimate, really a great writer

Chris Deal – this was a good dark story, powerful stuff, another Velveteer

Simon West-Bulford – i never know what to expect with Simon, and that’s what is great, never holds back